BlackBerry 7 supports Near Field Communications (NFC) technology for mobile payments and other short-range wireless data transactions. (Check out this on the Bold 9900.) And the OS also adds support for new hardware features such as a digital compass, accelerometer and proximity sensor, all of which are found within the Bold 9900.

One feature I would really like to see in the 9900 is mobile hotspot support, which was rumored to be coming along with the 9900. But RIM didn't mention it at all while detailing the device. The RIM representative I asked for more details wouldn't comment on unannounced features, though, so there's still a chance the 9900 will have mobile hotspot functionality.

Finally, the device should become available on all or most major U.S. carriers in "late summer" in two flavors: the 9900, for GSM/UMTS networks like AT&T and T-Mobile; and the 9930 "World Phone," with support for both CDMA networks, such as Verizon's, and GSM/UMTS. So the device should become widely available.

Unfortunately, the Bold 9900 is not a 4G device, which is a slight turnoff, since the device could feel outdated shortly after its release. It does, however, support HSPA+ downloads up to 14.4 Mbps and uploads up to 5.76 Mbps.

So, to sum that all up: I'm already a big fan of the Bold 9900. And it will probably be my next BlackBerry smartphone. Now, I anxiously await the BlackBerry Bold 9900 release. You can expect a full review on CIO.com just as soon as possible, so stayed tuned.